Skip advert
Advertisement

Vauxhall unveils MX-5 style GT Concept ahead of Geneva debut

New concept set for Geneva debut is front-engined rear-wheel drive Vauxhall

Vauxhall is set to display one of the Geneva motor show's most exciting cars when the show opens its doors in early March.

The Vauxhall and Opel GT concept is a compact, front-engined, rear wheel drive sports car, taking its visual inspiration from two historic models, the 1966 Vauxhall XVR and the 1965 Opel Experimental GT.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Classical sports car proportions - a long bonnet, short cabin and low profile - hide a 1-litre, turbocharged three cylinder like that found in the Adam, Corsa and Astra. Unlike those three cars it sends power to the rear wheels, through a six-speed sequential transmission, itself controlled by steering wheel mounted paddles.

>Read our Mazda MX-5 review

Power output is quoted as 143bhp, with torque of 151lb ft. The result, aided by a sub-1000kg kerb weight, is a sprightly 0-62mph time of under 8 seconds, and a top speed of 134mph. Those figures put it in the same ballpark as the 1.5-litre variant of the Mazda MX-5 (8.3sec and 127mph), which open-topped roof aside would be a natural rival should Vauxhall choose to produce the GT.

Not that the concept looks particularly production-ready. Unlike Toyota's similarly lightweight coupe concept, the S-FR, the GT is a concept car in the truest sense of the word

From the red front tyres - a colour theme that extends into the roof, via a strip used as a touchpad to open the doors - to the intricate wheels and those doors themselves, which open into the front wings, it's a riot of fanciful detailing. But it's also undeniably attractive, and easy to imagine its form used on a real production car - one with door mirrors, conventional doors and a less extravagant wheel design.

Some details on the concept are based on Vauxhall's current technology too, notably the integrated headlight and indicator units. These use the firm's IntelliLux LED matrix lighting technology, already used in the current-generation Astra.

We'll bring you more details on the striking concept from the show itself in early March. Keep your eyes peeled on evo.co.uk for a full Geneva motor show preview soon.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Japan’s supercar: revisiting the Honda NSX – car pictures of the week
Honda NSX front
Features

Japan’s supercar: revisiting the Honda NSX – car pictures of the week

While all the attention is on the ‘80s stars in evo issue 334, we revisited a ‘90s Japanese legend too
7 Jun 2025
Lotus has launched a new flagship Emira, and it starts from almost £100k
Lotus Emira – front
News

Lotus has launched a new flagship Emira, and it starts from almost £100k

Lotus’s range-topping Emira V6 SE has arrived, packing a retuned chassis and 400bhp to take on the Porsche 911 Carrera
5 Jun 2025
Porsche 911 Carrera GTS 2025 review – hybrid done the right way
Porsche 911 GTS – front
Reviews

Porsche 911 Carrera GTS 2025 review – hybrid done the right way

A new hybrid engine and chassis upgrades have injected personality and huge capability into the 992
3 Jun 2025
£15k off the price of a new Porsche 911
Porsche 911 deal 2025
News

£15k off the price of a new Porsche 911

A base 911 might now cost over £100k, but there are sturdily-optioned examples already built that you won’t pay any more for
29 May 2025
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

£15k off an Audi RS6 – 621bhp super estate discounted by over 10 per cent
Audi RS6
News

£15k off an Audi RS6 – 621bhp super estate discounted by over 10 per cent

Audi’s V8 titan is near the end of its life and high-spec examples are now available with big discounts
10 Jun 2025
Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport 2025 review – the ultimate all-season performance tyre?
Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport
Reviews

Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport 2025 review – the ultimate all-season performance tyre?

It’s been almost a decade in the making, but Michelin believes it’s finally cracked the code for an all-weather performance tyre with the CrossClimate…
9 Jun 2025
Best cheap hot hatchbacks – used pocket rockets for less than a Dacia Sandero
Best cheap hot hatches
Best cars

Best cheap hot hatchbacks – used pocket rockets for less than a Dacia Sandero

The new hot hatch market is all but barren. Look to the classifieds and the used market and the choice is near-limitless
9 Jun 2025